Then he went nearer and began to finger his squire's accoutrements, finally opening his belt pouch and taking out the stone that was therein.
"Where gat you this hone!" he said, holding it to the light; "it looks not the right blue for a Water-of-Ayr stone." Sholto answered that it came from the Parton Hills, and, as the Earl replaced it, he possessed himself of the square letter and thrust it into the bosom of his doublet.
As soon as William Douglas was alone, he broke the seal and tore open the parchment.

It was written in a delicate foreign script, the characters fine and small: "My lord, do not, I beseech you, come to Edinburgh or think of me more.

Last night my Lord of Retz spied upon us and this morning he hath carried me off.

Wherever you are when you receive this, turn instantly and ride with all speed to one of your strong castles.

As you love me, go! We can never hope to see one another again.